Cooperation with farmers

Socioeconomics of Urban Agriculture in Curuçambá Neighborhood, Metropolitan Region of Belém, Brazilian Amazon

This study characterized agricultural production systems under urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) in the Curuçambá neighborhood of the Metropolitan Region of Belém (RMB), Brazilian Amazon, identifying the main techniques, crops, and animals raised, and estimating production's contribution to family consumption on a complementary, exploratory basis. Data came from interviews with 63 residents (52.50% of the neighborhood's population), two weeks of food-consumption monitoring for six producer families, and georeferencing using Google Satellite imagery. Farmers came mainly from northeastern Pará (57.14%), with others from Maranhão (9.52%), Ceará (9.52%), and Paraíba (1.59%); urban agriculture in the region was established through the migration of rural residents to Amazonian cities. Most farmers had completed elementary school II (69.84%) and had an average monthly income of one to two minimum wages (50.79%). Agricultural production occurred in roughly 111 residences in the neighborhood, based on horticulture and small livestock keeping, across six production systems -- common beds (71.43%), suspended beds (12.70%), fruticulture (6.35%), agroforestry yards (3.17%), hydroponics (4.76%), and aquaponics (1.59%) -- directed toward supplying RMB markets. On average, 30.89% of farmers' income covered family consumption, and the opportunity cost of consumption for the five main crops grown (jambu, lettuce, coriander, chicory, and cariru) was estimated at R$79.88 monthly, 8.37% of the minimum wage at the time.

Paulo Silvano Magno Fróes Júnior, Fabrício Khoury Rebello, Cyntia Meireles Martins et al. · 2022 · Journal of Agricultural Studies

Vegetable box scheme in Cape Town, South Africa.

Abalimi Bezekhaya, a civil society organization in Cape Town, South Africa, has worked for 28 years with small-scale producers, primarily unemployed women, in Khayelitsha, Nyanga, and surrounding townships. These micro-farmers engage in home and community gardening to supplement their diet, improve household food and nutritional security, and generate sustainable income. The initiative also fosters community building, personal growth, and self-esteem among participants.

Femke Hoekstra, Rob Small · 2010 · Urban Agriculture Magazine

Vulnerability and urban farming: Coping with price volatility in Ejisu-Juaben municipality, Ghana

This paper investigated how urban farmers in Ejisu-Juaben Municipality, Ghana, cope with input and crop price fluctuations. Data from 380 respondents identified four major factors influencing input price volatility (oil prices, exchange rates, cocoa producer prices, and inflation), but farmers had no coping strategies for these. Crop price fluctuations were influenced by natural and demand/supply factors, and farmers coped by adding value to crops and diversifying income sources, among others. However, shifting to cocoa cultivation and farming in flood plains was shown to have adverse environmental and ecological implications.

Michael Osei Asibey, Mohammed Abubakari, Charles Peprah · 2019 · Cogent Food & Agriculture

Greenhouse Hydroponics in Coastal Slums of Mumbai: Market Access and Economic Benefits in Ghana,

This study investigated market access and economic benefits of greenhouse hydroponics among urban farmers in Mumbai's coastal slums and Ghana's agricultural hubs. Using a mixed-methods approach, data showed that hydroponic greenhouse production led to a 45% increase in vegetable yields compared to traditional farming methods, with over 70% of producers reporting higher income from market sales. Market access was significantly improved through partnerships with local NGOs and government initiatives.

Akosua Owusu-Bonsu, Yaa Afua, Kofi Agyeiwa et al. · 2013 · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)